Police have arrested four people in a raid over the kidnapping and murder of a Kansas mother and her friend, who disappeared while en route to visit and pick up her children.
The visit was also meant to celebrate Butler’s six-year-old daughter’s birthday.
Investigation so far reveals their murder is over a custody battle.
How The Moms Got Missing
Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, were traveling together to pick up Butler’s children, aged 6 and 8, on March 30.
The children were reportedly staying with their grandmother, Adams, as Butler is going through a nasty divorce and custody battle with her husband, Wrangler Cole Rickman.
Prior to their Kidnapping
Ten days before the two moms went missing, Butler filed a petition in court that would grant her more time with her children, with her goal being full custody.
As it is, Butler and the children’s grandmother, Adams, were not getting along amid the custody battle.
Butler has weekly, court-mandated visits every Saturday with the kids, with Kelley one of four people listed as supervisors of those visits.
Kelley as an acquaintance than a friend of Butler’s, is a pastor’s wife who is said to supervise Butler’s visitations with her children.
They deceased mom’s had made 45-minute drive from Hugoton to a gas station in Eva, before they disappeared, with the car found just three miles from where they were supposed to meet.
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At the Scene
Multiple puddles of blood were found near the vehicle, near a school Butler attended and graduated from in 2015 but the two moms are yet to be found
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has since announced the arrests of four individuals, saying there was evidence to indicate foul play.
Details of People Arrested
Among the four arrested people are Tifany Adams, 54, the children’s grandmother and Adams’ boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, per NewsNation.
The other two arrested are couple Cole Twombly, 50, and Cora Twombly, 44, so are friends with Adams on Facebook.
All four individuals were booked into the Texas County Jail on two counts of First-Degree Murder, two counts of Kidnapping, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree.
The case remains under investigation authorities are still working to locate the two victims.
